Michel Aoun
The drone attack served as a “deterrent” that tilted negotiations over the maritime border in Lebanon’s favor, says Michel Aoun.
Michel Aoun says the agreement does not “contradict Lebanon’s foreign policy,” with Jerusalem and Beirut remaining technically at war.
The Hezbollah-allied Free Patriotic Movement looks set to lose its position as the largest Christian party in the Lebanese parliament.
Aoun says Lebanon ready to restart talks with Israel on maritime borders
Jerusalem: “For us, the negotiations have never been stopped. But Lebanon must stop raising new demands.”
Lebanese president to US official: Impasse in maritime border talks can be overcome
“In-depth research” of international and maritime law can get stalled negotiations back on track, says Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
Israel-Lebanon maritime border talks stall
Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz says the Lebanese government has “changed its mind seven times”; Lebanese President Michel Aoun calls the claims “baseless.”
Protesters set fire to ruling parties’ offices in northern Lebanon
Approximately 130 people were reportedly wounded in Beirut during violent clashes between protesters and Lebanese security forces.
The United States had already identified the risk of a Lebanese government with a pro-Iran majority. Several American officials visited Lebanon to warn Lebanese officials not to appoint Hezbollah politicians to top ministerial posts such as health minister, and also to warn about the ramifications of rapprochement with Iran.
The newly formed Lebanese government has seen 30 Lebanese ministers sworn in: 18 of them are from Hezbollah’s March 8 Alliance, while 12 are from the rival March 14 alliance, headed by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Nevertheless, the United States applauded the development.
Lebanon is in urgent need of a government capable of installing economic reforms that are necessary to put its debt on a sustainable road, according to the International Monetary Fund.
According to Israeli military assessments, however, the LAF is increasingly coming under the sway of the Iranian-backed terror organization Hezbollah, which dominates Lebanon politically and militarily.
